Is a Surprise Bruno Mars Album Coming Before the End of 2016?

Another day, another (minor) hint that a new Bruno Mars record is creeping steadily closer.

In a Q4 album release round-up published today (Sept. 26), oft-reliable industry insider site HITS Daily Double revealed in their Rumor Mill column that, within Warner Music Group's release schedule, "Bruno Mars is coming, but the date remains hush-hush."

Add it to the kinda-sorta confirmation we've received thus far to expect a return from Mars this year for the first time since 2012's Unorthodox Jukebox, thanks to a recent revelation from his bassist, Jamareo Artis.

“We’ve been working on it for about a year, trying different ideas and experimenting,” Artis said in an interview with Bass Player. “I don’t know what’s going to be included in the final version, but it’s going to have a new sound, and so far the material is very groove-oriented. It’ll be out sometime this year, and then we’ll hit the road again.”

Skrillex also confirmed that he was working with Bruno Mars back in June. “I’m not going to give specifics of what it sounds like, but what we’re doing is so f—king different, awesome and next level and sounds like nothing else that’s happened before," he said at the time.

Bandmate and collaborator teases aside, it's very possible that Bruno's opting to go the surprise route this time around. (Or, as we say in the industry, to "pull a Beyoncé.")

He's been pretty quiet on social media. So just know: we're watching you, Bruno.